Coupling-centralizing mechanism.



H. C. BUHOUP. COUPLING CENTRALIZING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3, 1915.

Patented Au 17, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET H. C. BUHOUP. COUPLING CENTRALIZING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3. 1915. 1,15,495. Patented Aug. 17,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH c0-.wAsmNu'roN, n. c.

I H. c. BUHOUPf COUPLING CENTRALIZING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, I915.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.,WA3H|Nu'r0N. n.

n sra'rns Parana oiwrcn.

HARRY o. BUHOUJP, oroiiioneo, iLLINoIs, ASSIGNOR TO THE IVLQCO'NW'AY & Ton-LEY COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

GOUPLING-CENTRALIZING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 17, 1915.

Application filed April 3, 1915 Serial No. 19,012.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY C. Burrour, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupler-centralizing Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to car couplers which are designed to beattached to railway vehicles so as to be capable of having a lateral swinging movement when passing around curved track, and although certainfeatures of construction are applicable to couplers in which the head is rigidly connected to the stem the invention is more especially concerned with the type of coupler in which the head is pivotally mounted upon the stem so as to turn independently.

The primary object of the invention is to produce mechanism for centralizing both the head and stem which shall be efiicient, durable and easily disassembled if any repairs are required, and in which the centralization of the stem as well as the centralization of the head with respect to the stem may be effected without the necessity of employing springs acting separately on each. Generally stated, this object is effected by a combination of elements involving a plurality of transversely extending, relatively movable spring boxes or followers which project outwardly from the sides of the coupler stem and which are adapted to engagethe' carrier iron or draft. sills of tie car or other railway vehicle, the spring boxesibeing yieldingly separated by an interposed springand being limited in respect to their .movement outwardl from the sides of the coupler stem by separable means, and being also adapted to be actuatedupon the occurrence of turning movements of the coupler head with respect to the stem.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a plan view of a coupler equipped with centralizing mechanism embodying myinvention, a portion of the upper plate of the coupler stem being omitted in. order to better disclose the centralizing devices. Fig. 2 1S receive the well-known tail pin. The forturned with respect to said stem. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical central section, showing the prin cipal portion of the mechanism, the parts being shown in the same positions as in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a transverse section, taken in the plane of the line 66, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the elements of the mechanism. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the part illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View of a portion of the member illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, and Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the forward end of the tiller or spacer member of the coupler stem.

The coupler head is indicated by the reference numeral 1, the coupler stem being indicated by 2. These parts are pivotally connected in a suitable manner, as, for example, by means of a pivot pin 3. The stem of the coupler is preferably composed of similar top and bottom plates 4 which are secured by rivets 5 to an interposed spacer or filler member 6 that terminates at its forward end in juxtaposition to the laterally movable spring-boxes 12. The rear end of the coupler stem is provided with suitable means whereby it may be connected to the draft gear, such means being here illustrated as an aperture 8 adapted to ward end of each plate 4 is provided with a perforation 9 for receiving the pivot pin 3 by which the head 1 is mounted upon the stem.

On each side at its forward end the tiller or spacer member 6 of the stem is provided with forwardly extending projections 10, which are preferably located midway between the upper and lower plates 4 of the stem and which form stops that are adapt 105 ed to respectively engage corresponding rearwardly projecting lugs or flanges 11- on the rear faces 15 of the spring-boxes or follower members 12. Between the stops or projections 10 the forward end of the filler member 6 is suitably formed to permit the spring-boxes 12 to move toward each other to thus effect a compression of the spring 13, such end portion being preferably fashioned as a transversely extending vertical face 14 that is adapted to cooperate with the rear faces of the springbox lugs 11 to assist in guiding the spring boxes during their reciprocating movements. transversely of the coupler stem 2. The engagement of the lugs or flanges 11 on the spring-boxes with the stops 1() on the filler member 6 serves to limit the extent of outward movement or separation of the springboxes 12, as will be apparent, while the forward faces of the lugs 11 by terminating closely adjacent to the corresponding rear sides or walls 15 of the spring-boxes serve.

as guides which prevent any substantial twisting or turning movements of the spring-boxes 12 when the mechanism is in service. The filler member 6 is also provided near its forward end with means whereby it may have interfitting engagement with and may afford lateral. support for a member or device 16 forming detachable means for retaining the spring-boxes 12 in assembled position on the coupler stem 2. For this purpose the filler 6 is preferably provided at a point somewhat to the rear of its forward end with four vertically opening recesses 17 which are arranged in pairs at each side of the coupler stem, the recesses of each pairbeing separated from each other by corresponding lugs or ribs 18 which are of substantially the same height as the stops or projections 10. The recesses 17 are respectively provided with outer lateral walls 19 which are adapted to have overlapping engagement with the rear end of the member 16, as will presently apear. p The means for detachably securing the spring-boxes or follower members 12 in assembled position is mounted on the stem of the coupler. It preferably is a unitary member 16 which is provided with an aperture 20 for receiving the pivot pin 3 by which the coupler head 1 and stem. 2 are connected; and it is preferably formed with side members 21 which embrace the top andbottom plates 4 of the coupler stem between them. These side members 21. are provided with openings 22 through which the respective spring-boxes 12 project, the openings being sufficiently large to permit the lateral introduction and withdrawal of the said boxes. The forward wall of each opening 22 has a configuration corresponding to that of the forward side of the adjacent spring-box, to the end that these walls may serve as guides for the corresponding spring-boxes; and as it is preferred to pro vide the forward side of the spring-boxes with guide ribs 23 which afford vertical support for the respective boxes, the corrsponding side walls of the openings 22 are consequently preferably formed with conforming recesses or slots 24% for the reception of the corresponding ribs 23. The portions of the side members 21 immediately above and below the slots 24 and adjacent to the openings 22 form stops 25 which cooperate with the corresponding forwardly extending ribs or stops 26 on the forward faces of the respective spring-boxes 12, to thereby limit the outward or separating movement of the spring-boxes.

At its rear end the me1nber'16 is formed with vertically extending shoulders or abutments 27 which stand juxtaposition to the corresponding forward faces of the portions 19 of'the filler 6 when the member 16 is in assembled position. Inwardly of the abutment face 27 andextending rearwardly with respectthereto are projections 28 which are adapted to respectively enter the recesses 17 near the forward end of the stem member or filler 6, the shoulders 27 and adjacent projections 28 forming half-lap joints with the lateralwalls 19 of their corresponding recesses 17 The locking projections 28, which are preferably arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the member 16 and extend in a vertical direction, are separated sufficiently toreceivefthe corresponding lugs or ribs 18 between them, and, since the lugs 18' are located in alinement with and are of the same height as the stops 10 at the forward end of the filler 6, the member 16 is thus permitted to clear the stops 10 when being slid longitudinally of the coupler in assembling the parts or in detaching them from the coupler stem.

The spring-boxes 12 are. preferably of substantially rectangular cross-section, their outer ends being closed to form seats for the spring 13, and theirexterior end faces being curved cylindrically, as at 29, so as to facilitate their changes of angular position with respect to the carrier iron or sills which they engage. At their inner ends'and extending vertically in opposite directions from the top and bottom faces. thereof," the springboxes are formed or provided with. lugs or pintles 30 through which the pivotal move ments of the coupler head 1 with respect to the stem 2 are communicated to said springboxes, as will hereinafter appear.

WVhen the coupler head turns upon its pivot pin 3 one or the other of the springboxes 12, depending on the direction of rotation of the head, is moved toward its companion spring-box to thereby cause a corresponding compression of the spring 13. These movements of the spring-boxes are effected through the instrumentality of levers 31 which fulcrum upon the member 16 and which are operatively interposed between the coupler head and the respective spring-boxes, the disposition of parts being such that, as shown in Fig. 4, that springbOX 12 is actuated which is on the side of the coupler stem opposite the side toward which the head turns.

The levers 31 are preferably similar and may be advantageously constructed and arranged as follows: Each lever is provided at its inner end with a pair of horizontally disposed arms 32 that receive one of the springboXes 12 between them, the ends of said arms being provided with hooked portions which are adapted to engage the outer sides of the pintles 30 carried by the adjacent springbox. Each lever 31 has a vertically extending portion 33 which is formed with a curved outer surface that bears against and is adapted to rock or oscillate upon the member 16 at the appropriate upper and lower fulcrum points 34 with which said member 16 isprovided at the junction of its forward or box-like portion with its side members 21. I

The portions 33 of the levers are of substantially wedge form in cross-sections, as best shown in Figs. 3 and at, to permit the levers to have the desired range of oscillation. EX-

tending obliquely forward from the portion 33, each lever is provided with an arm 35 that projects through a slot that is formed in the inner end of a connecting rod or bolt 36, there being a bolt for each lever and the ends of the arms 35 being suitably hooked or recessed, as indicated at 37, to insure a secure yet movable operative connection between the corresponding bolts and levers. The lever arms 35 overlap each other in the longitudinal center of the coupler stem, and the connecting rods 36 cross each other and eX- tend obliquely forward passing out through similar slots 38 and 39, respectively, on opposite sides of the interlocking slide 16. Each bolt passes through a corresponding suitably flared opening 40 in the coupler head 1 and is provided at its outer end with a nut 11 that bears against a portion of said head at some distance from the pivot pin 3, whereby when the coupler head is rotated on the pivot pin one or the other of the rods is caused to pull upon the lever 31 to which it is connected and to oscillate the same in a direction to cause the corresponding spring-box or follower member 12 to appreach the other springbox and thus compress the spring 13.

Assuming that the plates 4: and filler or spacer member 6 have been riveted together to form the coupler stem 2, the centralizing mechanism may be assembled and mounted on the stem in the following manner: The spring 13 is positioned in the frame member 16 so as to extend through the openings 22 of the latter. The levers 31 are then assembled with their respective spring-boXes 12, and the spring-boxes and levers are together inserted in the openings 22,the spring-boxes being slipped over the ends of the spring 1 13. The bolts 36 are then respectively inserted through the openings 38 and 39 of the member 16 and the hooked or recessed ends 35 of the levers 31 are properly positioned in the slots at the inner ends of said bolts; The frame member 16 bearing the parts that have been assembled therewith is then positioned on the coupler stem 2 between the upper and lower plates 1. This is done by sliding the member 16 rearwardly until its lugs 28 enter the recesses 17 near the forward end of the filler member 6 of the coupler stem and the flanges 11 on the followers or salin -boxes 12 overla the lugs or stops 10, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The threaded ends of the bolts 36 are then entered in the flared openings 10 of the coupler head and the latter is positioned on the coupler stem 2, after which the pivot pin 3 is passed through the corresponding openings in the coupler head, stem 2 and frame member 16. The nuts 41 are then applied to the ends of the bolts 40.

If it should become necessary to replace the spring 13 or any of the parts of the centralizing mechanism, this may be readily done. The nuts 10 and pivot pin 3 are removed and thereupon the parts of the cen tralizing mechanism may be separated from the coupler stem by simply sliding the frame member 16 forwardly. W hen the coupler stem 2 moves laterally one of the followers or spring-boxes 12 moves correspondingly, the movement of the stem being communicated to the springbox by reason of the engagement of the lugs 10 and 25 with the corresponding lugs or flanges 11 and 26 on the spring-box. As the other spring-box is prevented from retreating by reason of the fact that its outer end bears upon the draft sills or coupler carrier iron, the lateral movement of the stem 2 consequently effects a compression of the spring 13. By the expansion of the spring the parts are restored to normal position and the coupler stem is accordingly returned to a central position.

The turning of the coupler head 1 with re spect to the stem 2 also operates to cause the spring-boxes 12 to approach each other, thus effecting a compression of the spring 13; and this occurs whether the coupler stem is in normal position or in a laterally displaced position. The compression of the spring 13 upon the turning of the head 1 with respect to the coupler stem is effected in this wise: When the head turns it pulls upon one or the other of the connecting rods or bolts 36, according to the direction of the turningmovement. This causes the cone sponding lever 81 to rock upon its fulcrum and pull inwardly upon the pintles 30 with which it engages, the spring'boX 12 which is upon the opposite side of the coupler stem from that toward which the head 1 turns being thus moved inwardly and the spring 13 being therefore compressed. The subsequent expansion of the spring will restore the coupler head to a centralized position with respect to the stem. As will be readily appreciated, such a movement of the springboX- as is induced by the turning of the coupler head on the stem will result in a compression of the spring 13 whether the other spring-box is in the position illustrated in F ig. 3 or is in a position such as shown in Fig. 4.

1 claim:

1. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler stem,

of a coupler head pivotally mounted thereon, and means for centralizing sa1d head with respect to said stem, said means involving a spring mounted on said stem and levers operatively connected to said head and adapted to turn on independent fulcrum points.

2. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler stem, of a coupler head pivotally mounted thereon, and means for centralizing said head with respect to said stem, said means involving a spring, levers operatively connected to and adapted to energize said spring, and independent connections between said levers and head for actuating said levers, said connections being movably connected to their respective levers.

3. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler stem, of a coupler head pivotally mounted thereon, and means for centralizing said head with respect to said stem, said means involving a spring, levers operatively connected to said spring and independent connections between said levers and head for actuating the respective levers, said levers being adapted to turn on fulcrum points located between said springs and the point of pivotal connection of the said head and stem.

4. In mechanism of the character inclicated, the combination with a coupler stem, of a coupler head pivotally mounted thereon, a spring, movable follower members between which the said spring is operatively interposed, levers respectively engaging and adapted to move said follower members in a direction to energize said spring, and connections between said levers and head whereby said levers may be actuated by the turning of the head with respect to the stem.

of a coupler head pivotally mounted thereon, and means for centralizing said head with respect to said stem, said means involving a plurality of spring-boxes mounted upon and adapted to move transversely with respect to saidcoupler stem, means for limiting the separation of said spring-boxeaa spring interposed between said spring-boxes and adapted to be compressed between the same, and means actuated by saidhead for inducing a relative movement of said springboXes toward each other when said head is turned with respect to said stem.

6' In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler stem, of a coupler head pivotally mounted thereon, and means for centralizing said head with respect to said stem, said means involving slidable follower members, a spring interposed between said followers, and opera tive connections between said head and followers whereby when the head is turned with respect to said stem in one direction from its centralized position one of said followers is caused to move toward the other to thereby energize said spring and when the head is turned in the opposite direction from its centralized position the other follower is caused to move to thereby energize said spring.

7. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination. with a coupler stem, of a coupler head pivotally mounted thereon, and means for centralizing said head with respect to said stem, said means involving a spring, a plurality of connecting rods operatively connected to said head and adapted to be actuated thereby, and means operatively connecting. the respective rods with opposite ends of said sprin 8. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler having a head and stem, of means for centralizing said stem, said means involving relatively movable follower members, a spring interposed between said follower members, and means for limiting the separation of said follower members,said last named means being mounted on the coupler stem and involving separable members.

9. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler stem, of a coupler head pivotally mounted thereon, and means for centralizing said stem,rsaid means involving relatively movable transversely extending spring-boxes projecting outwardly beyond the corresponding sides of the said stem, a spring operatively interposed between said spring-boxes, and means for limiting the separation of said spring-boxes, said means last mentioned involving separable members mounted on the coupler stem, and one of said separable members being slidable longitudinally of the coupler stem and being detachable therefrom when the said head is removed from said stem.

10. In mechanism of the character indithe corresponding spring-boxes, and operacated, the combination With a laterally movtive connections between said head and the able coupler stem, of a coupler head pivotrespective levers whereby said levers may be 13 ally mounted thereon, reciprocating folindependently operated.

5 lower members mounted on said stem, a In testimony Whereofl aflix my signature.

spring operatively interposed between said followers, levers respectively connected to HARRY C. BUHOUP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 1 

